Tony Ortega's Blog
December 1, 2025
An OT Scientologist is in Pinellas County Jail for a truly awful reason
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard said every person is actually trillions of years old, and over that many lifetimes has committed every horrific crime possible. Maybe that explains why there’s an OT Scientologist in Pinellas County Jail right now accused of truly awful things. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“One of the reasons Scientology tended toward disuse in the late 1960s was not its workability. It was a growing cultural disinclination to do things thoroughly.
‘Fast, quick results’ was interpreted as seconds or minutes. In old psychotherapy as practiced in the 18th Century it required ONE YEAR of weekly consultation to see if anything could be done about a case and FOUR MORE YEARS to produce a meager superficial result. Compared to that two or three hundred hours of processing was nothing. As we began to dominate this field in terms of persons handled and results obtained, psychiatry invented ‘instant psychiatry’ by which no result was gotten in no time.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
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“All this of course is, is, I’m just, I’m just kidding you mostly. I don’t believe that you’ve been in the universe seventy-six trillion years. I don’t believe you have any past before birth. I don’t believe that there’s any reason whatsoever for this universe to be here except that some fellow called the devil or something that built it. Uh, I don’t believe any of these things. And I don’t want to be agreed with about them. It infuriates me to be agreed with about them, so I’m not asking for anybody to agree with me. But I’m not asking for anybody to disagree with me either.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 1, 1952
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“NEXT PORT: The next port has its drawbacks but also its advantages. It is a bit dusty and occasionally smelly. But it is very quiet. It has an interesting native area. And you can have ash trays by the ton at the pottery shop. Remember to bargain hard. Offer a third or less of what is asked and come up a bit when buying odds and ends.” — The Commodore, December 1, 1970
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“I think it’s great that the church has a healthy second dynamic, like you see young people running their orgs, very likely they are Scientology kids. Maybe it has something to do with marriage being respected and abortion being avoided. We don’t seem to have a young generation in the Free Zone. I guarantee you the church will always exist because it’s got a second dynamic, of course only in a quiet way though but that’s better than nothing. We need younglings and babies so start making them.”
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
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1995: The anonymous poster Xenu reported on the state of AOL’s folders this week. “After a period of quiescence, the ‘Scientology and Copyright’ folder on AOL is again under concerted, coordinated attack. It’s been deleted repeatedly over the last few days, with no public acknowledgment from AOL of what is going on. RonArtistR in particular has been foaming at the mouth with posts demanding the deletion of the copyright folder. Apparently AOL has chosen the path of least resistance. Free speech is apparently too much trouble to allow. Other folders have also disappeared. Alan Morris reported the deletion of the ‘Scientologie’ folder, and Woodsie found his post containing the recently released report by Jon Atack deleted. Apparently AOL finds this material threatening… I posted the first part, in 8 pages to the ‘religion & ethics?’ bds…only to find it all removed the following morning.”
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“I’m putting out a shoop challenge. I’m envisioning a shoop of LRH with a doll of Miscavige sitting on his lap and Tiny Cancer has a Tom Cruise doll sitting on his lap. The prize to the winner is a chicken dinner or a quadrillion Howdy bucks.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. DA’s response to appeal brief due August 13.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing December 1.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal. Leah’s appeal brief was filed June 3. Respondent briefs are due September 2.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal. Jane Does’ response to Scientology’s appeal brief submitted July 30. Scientology’s reply due October 20.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
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After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] The Christmas season is here, and Scientology wants all your presents
[TWO years ago] Undercover investigation: Scientology’s dangerous games with mental health care
[THREE years ago] After Danny Masterson mistrial: Transcript of the press conference and more reactions
[FOUR years ago] The Danny Masterson court cases and Scientology: A video update
[FIVE years ago] If the feds are sniffing around, they might look at Danny Masterson’s besties
[SIX years ago] Scientology amps up shattering suppression in the wake of Leah Remini’s onslaught
[SEVEN years ago] President George H.W. Bush dies at 94, and we remember a fateful October 1991 day
[EIGHT years ago] How L. Ron Hubbard used ‘past lives’ to set a trap for Scientologists
[NINE years ago] Leah Remini: Scientology’s new attack has a Katie Holmes angle they aren’t talking about
[TEN years ago] Legoland theme park donates $10,000 to Scientology front on behalf of Jenna Elfman
[ELEVEN years ago] Hey, Dr. Phil, get a clue about Scientology and stop stiff-arming Lori Hodgson
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Fundraising Mailers Galore!
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,464 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,968 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,474 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,024 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,014 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,400 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,895 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,199 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,850 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,068 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,622 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,963 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,534 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,450 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,617 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,199 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,458 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,495 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,210 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,775 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,090 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,265 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,947 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,284 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,137 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,253 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,615 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,026 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,414 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,298 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,863 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,374 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,634 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,738 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on December 1, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2024 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2024), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 20 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
Q patriots prepare for another MAGA holiday season as libturds weep
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Trump is boasting about his bribery ballroom again. It’s his number one priority. pic.twitter.com/ytQVuMWeOz
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) December 1, 2025
Reporter: Can you talk a little bit about the strikes and controversy around Hegseth—
Trump: I don’t know anything about it. He said he did not say that.
Reporter: You don’t know if there was a second strike to kill the two men
Trump: He said he didn’t do it
Reporter: Would… pic.twitter.com/zjPw9ZbPIC
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 30, 2025
Reporter: You have made so clear how you want to keep drugs out of the US—
Trump: Right
Reporter: Can you explain why you would pardon a notorious drug trafficker?
Trump: I don’t know who you are talking about
Reporter: Juan Orlando Hernandez
Trump: Many of the people of… pic.twitter.com/5ye6z8sarz
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 30, 2025
Welker: What vetting did the Trump administration do before giving this suspect asylum?
Noem: That’s the Biden administration’s responsibility.
Welker: Asylum was approved in April of this year on the Trump administration’s watch. So just to be very clear, was there a vetting… pic.twitter.com/GRCO3ygIVm
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 30, 2025
Trump refuses to take responsibility for terrorism happening on his watch pic.twitter.com/r1v7dG7F4J
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) November 30, 2025
QAnon getting excited about the normalization of Adrenochrome conspiracy theories. Things are going great. pic.twitter.com/papp7ZcHER
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) December 1, 2025
MAGA believes Trump is “the reason for the season” pic.twitter.com/BpqIHaSZkO
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) November 30, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on December 1, 2025 at 08:00
November 30, 2025
Trump frees Scientologist fraudster, doesn’t free non-Scientologist crime partner
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Only days into a 7-year sentence, convicted fraudster and longtime Scientology donor David Gentile was freed from custody Wednesday. The White House didn’t grant clemency to Gentile’s non-Scientologist crime partner, the latest sign of Scientology’s in with this president. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The pc is continually searching for the significance of a mass or force – what is it, why is it. The C/S is easily led astray by this. All forces in the bank contain significances. All forces can be unburdened and lightened up by the various procedures of auditing. The search of the pc is for significance. The action of the C/S is reduction of forces.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
——————–
THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
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“Clearing, actually, is not nice. And if you’re looking for some nice, sweet procedure, why, you know, be an art critic and don’t get audited. Spend all your time in the galleries where it’s quiet and serene and nothing ever happens.” — L. Ron Hubbard, November 30, 1961
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“Good News: ASHO, AOSH DK and AOLA all have higher stats. Clarice Jackson is reported to be doing absolutely fantastically and one of the most respected people in the whole area known widely in the US for her first actions. She issued ‘writs of expulsion from the church’ on Berez, Taunton, Deitsch and Bernie Green and things are cooling off. Big factors in the upsurge are said to be sending Fred Hare, the new stable datum materials and new OT III results. Guardian lines show us fighting on enemy terrain for the first time, not our own. She had loads of good news and is overjoyed with her Gdn offices.” — The Commodore, November 30, 1969
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“The majority of stuff above OT 2 is mostly false and limiting data. AKA: bullshit. It causes psychosis. No exception. I know many people who are psychotic after doing the bridge past OT 2. I was warned 22 yrs ago, not to go past OT 2.”
2001: The Riverside Press-Enterprise reported that Scientology is shooting a movie at Gold Base, near Hemet, California. “A booming cannon shoots toward a row of cottonwood trees on the lush, grassy fields of 17th-century France. Fifteen minutes later, the fire lands among a cluster of charging soldiers wearing goatees, creamy white cravats and feathers in their hats. Three of them drop. Then they get up and try it again. When it’s finished, Golden Era Productions will have an educational video showing how war never solves mankind’s real problems. Golden Era Productions, located in Gilman Hot Springs northwest of San Jacinto, makes educational and training films for the Church of Scientology. Staff members who work on the 520-acre site do everything from sewing costumes to acting and filming. The film will be used for educational purposes in Scientology churches all over the world.”
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“Professors Kent and Touretzky are the go-to guys in the academic study of Scientology and cults in general.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. DA’s response to appeal brief due August 13.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing December 1.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal. Jane Does’ response to Scientology’s appeal brief submitted July 30. Scientology’s reply due October 20.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
——————–
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Mark Bunker as you’ve never seen him, taking on Scientology with ‘Bunkology’!
[TWO years ago] David Miscavige’s nod to John Travolta debunks another tabloid ‘leaving Scientology’ fantasy
[THREE years ago] As jury looks at Jane Doe 3, let’s keep in mind Cohen’s statement about unconscious rape
[FOUR years ago] Scientology ‘honors’ veterans by lying about founder L. Ron Hubbard’s war record
[FIVE years ago] Kirstie Alley is wrong on Leah Remini & Shelly Miscavige. We know because we broke the story.
[SIX years ago] Guy White opens his big mouth: The former Hubbard family member spills on Scientology!
[SEVEN years ago] LEAH REMINI: Los Angeles DA Jackie Lacey, do your job already
[EIGHT years ago] The new list of Scientology donors is out early this year — and the biggest whale is missing!
[NINE years ago] Amy Scobee: ‘Even on her deathbed, my mom was fighting Scientology and disconnection’
[TEN years ago] Where it all began for us: Rick Ross, David Koresh, and the Church of Scientology
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: An oily and super powered edition of our weekly feature!
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Celebrates its Legal Defense Slush Fund, and What a Party!
[THIRTEEN years ago] Miscavige Gets His Wish: Marty Rathbun Pulling Up Stakes?
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,463 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,967 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,473 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,023 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,013 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,399 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,894 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,198 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,849 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,067 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,621 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,962 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,533 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,449 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,616 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,198 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,457 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,494 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,209 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,774 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,089 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,264 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,946 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,283 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,136 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,252 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,614 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,025 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,413 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,297 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,862 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,373 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,633 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,737 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on November 30, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2024 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2024), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 20 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
The affordability president prepares for war with Venezuela
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Trump’s golf trips add up costing taxpayers millions. Why doesn’t the GOP cut these trips instead of Medicaid? pic.twitter.com/eHNunwTIl1
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) November 30, 2025
Trump threatens airplanes flying in and near Venezuela pic.twitter.com/19Hs7RLlXM
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) November 29, 2025
Trump says the GOP should win the midterms because he is “the affordability president” pic.twitter.com/aNKEDae9nE
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) November 29, 2025
This came from the 2021 infrastructure bill signed by Biden. Mace voted against it. https://t.co/8sLwOrJEem
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) November 29, 2025
QAnon spent nearly a decade talking about Trump being The Peace Man and ending the Deep State's war machine. Now they love the war machine and can't wait to turn Venezuela into a bombed out hellscape. pic.twitter.com/MPauZLWQ6a
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) November 30, 2025
In 2020 there was the Italian spy satellites that stole the election. The Golden Server in Germany that showed Trump won California. The North Korean boats that docked in Maine with Biden ballots. Now we have Venezuelan Corrupt Code that is the grounds for a war. pic.twitter.com/XreChliTvQ
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) November 30, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on November 30, 2025 at 08:00
November 29, 2025
Scientology’s IAS trophy winners part two: The big whales keeping Dave afloat in 2025
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Today we present Scientology’s really big whales, the megadonors who have given at least $1 million each to church leader David Miscavige’s legal slush fund, with the trophies they were given at this year’s IAS gala. Recognize anyone? [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“Engrams, secondaries, locks all add up to mental masses, forces, energies, time, which express themselves in countless different ways such as pain, misemotion, feelings, old perceptions and a billion billion thought combinations buried in the masses as significances. A thetan can postulate or say or reason anything. Thus there is an infinity of significances. A thetan is natively capable of logical thought. This becomes muddied by outpoints held in by mental forces such as pictures of heavy experiences. As the masses and forces accumulated and copied from living build up, the logic potential becomes reduced and illogical results occur.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980
——————–
THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
——————–
THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
——————–
“Every thetan is, unless he’s knocked flat out — you know, unless he’s been eating some of the recent food preservatives — this fellow is operating to some degree, even if he’s just an effect. You see, he’s, he still can put out an impulse. See, he’s mostly effect, but he can put out a little bit of an impulse, see? Well, actually that would be an interiorized thetan who was very wog. And the word ‘wog,’ of course, is in essence a ‘worthy oriental gentleman’ as been defined by the Royal Air Force. There’s nothing derogatory in being called a wog. As a matter of fact, that was the source of a general order issued in Egypt on the complaint of the Egyptian government. The air force officers were calling Egyptians wogs. So the commanding officer defined it. And he said, well, wog, that means ‘worthy oriental gentleman,’ and insisted his officers use it. Those were in the days when the Empire wasn’t dead! Anyway, this means a common, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, garden-variety humanoid. And a garden-variety humanoid means a person who has human characteristics. By which we define not that he is human in his treatment of things, he isn’t. It’s simply that he is a body, he is a body.” — L. Ron Hubbard, November 29, 1966
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“DARBY: The DARBY started at midnight last night. See ED 11 Flag for the thrilling details of this race. You too can be a winner.” — The Commodore, November 29, 1971
——————–
“Understanding how theta works in a MEST universe on a continuous basis is reversing the downhill spiral. You can never learn it enough. If you don’t audit thetans you end up alone with unconscious beings. And no comm lines. Scientology is a breakdown of MEST universe into its most basic components. If you even clear a planet that would be like wow, utopia. That’s why I haven’t given up on Scientology like others, just in case it can change. It has the structure there, just needs to get rid of the paranoia. Or run grade 4 on Miscavige so he stops running his 3rd dynamic surfacs.”
2000: Critics of Scientology held protests in Clearwater this week to mark the anniversary of the death of Lisa McPherson. From the St. Petersburg Times: “The protest will be tempered by a court order issued Thursday that outlines specific locations where the critics can and cannot picket. Jeff Jacobsen, one of the protest organizers, said he was expecting about 40 people to participate. Some flew in from Germany and Canada, he said, while others are local residents. He said he expects the protesters to obey the injunction, even though they disagree with it. ‘It’s a huge violation of our First Amendment and free speech rights,’ Jacobsen said. ‘Every year they do something to try and stop us. This year, they relied heavily on the injunction.’ Church of Scientology spokesman Ben Shaw dismissed the protest as unimportant and the critics as ‘hate mongers.’ He said the church had no plans to react to the critics. The church was grateful that Circuit Judge Thomas Penick granted an injunction that specifically names a handful of known church critics and the Lisa McPherson Trust, an anti-Scientology watchdog group that set up offices downtown in January. The injunction includes 10 maps of church facilities with color codes designating where critics may stage their protest. Pickets can be across the street from the Fort Harrison Hotel, but not on the sidewalk directly in front of it. They can picket on the east side of the Clearwater Bank Building, but not on the west side. It also specifies that the critics and church members must stay 10 feet away from each other and cannot harass one another.”
——————–
“Scientology is a racist philosophy. It’s anti homo sapiens.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. DA’s response to appeal brief due August 13.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing December 1.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal. Jane Does’ response to Scientology’s appeal brief submitted July 30. Scientology’s reply due October 20.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
——————–
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] On Black Friday, Scientology has yet another way it wants your money!
[TWO years ago] Scientology leader David Miscavige’s IAS speech in its entirety — the transcript
[THREE years ago] Scientology down 23 PERCENT from 2011 to 2021 in England census data released today
[FOUR years ago] Scientology’s academic champion: An eager copyright attorney who shills with alacrity
[FIVE years ago] Another social media harvest that reveals Scientology’s planetary takeover
[SIX years ago] Scientology moves to dismiss the ‘Jane Doe’ lawsuit in Miami, and we have the docs
[SEVEN years ago] While Leah Remini asks for government action, the government covers for Scientology overseas
[EIGHT years ago] DOX: Sworn testimony that a U.S. state was too afraid to take on the Church of Scientology
[NINE years ago] As you watch Leah Remini’s show tonight, keep these people disappeared by Scientology in mind
[TEN years ago] Jonny Jacobsen: Why the Moscow ban on Scientology may be built on shaky foundations
[ELEVEN years ago] Jon Atack excavates the Scientology mind for L. Ron Hubbard’s most harmful implants
[TWELVE years ago] Tonight: Scientology Gets Its IAS Gala On — Let’s Get Dauntless, Defiant, and Resolute!
[THIRTEEN years ago] Scientology’s Master Spies
——————–
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,462 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,966 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,472 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,022 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,012 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,398 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,893 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,197 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,848 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,066 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,620 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,961 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,532 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,448 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,615 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,197 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,456 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,493 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,208 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,773 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,088 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,263 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,945 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,282 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,135 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,251 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,613 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,024 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,412 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,296 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,861 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,372 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,632 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,736 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on November 29, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2024 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2024), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 20 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
The White House grift never ends, and libturds can cry all they want to
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});400,000 children died, mostly from starvation, because of Trump, DOGE, Musk, Vought, and Rubio https://t.co/6YftvXmGby
— Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) November 28, 2025
A video of all the gold adornments Trump added to the Oval Office pic.twitter.com/miXpPErLx6
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) November 28, 2025
It never stops… pic.twitter.com/fu19N8tLbM
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) November 28, 2025
Trump is bragging about 50-year mortgages again pic.twitter.com/fxCKeU5ye2
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) November 28, 2025
Somebody tell Caroline that John McCain passed away https://t.co/9hnJDRVQ88
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) November 29, 2025
The ultimate payoff for QAnon is is that all the idiot libs will have to admit Trump really was the hero after all and that he shut down the Adrenochrome farms and then ushered in an unrivaled age of peace and prosperity. pic.twitter.com/uUH03FisZZ
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) November 28, 2025
Fox News anchor Brett Baier at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club pic.twitter.com/w1NxNbTNQ5
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) November 28, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on November 1, 2025 at 08:00
November 28, 2025
It’s here! Scientology’s list of trophy-winning donors from 2025’s Patrons Ball!
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The Patrons Ball at this year’s IAS gala was held less than 4 weeks ago, but Scientology has already put out our favorite, Impact magazine, and you know what that means: Scientology whales and their trophies! Can you help us identify them? ALSO: A Hubbard made the scene! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“The use of the words to de-aberrate and concentration on phrases in engrams is valid but junior in force to the pain, misemotion, etc. in the engram. Thus if you run out the force the words drop into insignificance. This is often how the pc gets cognitions: the words and meaning concealed in the engram are changing value and devaluating. The pc can then think clearly again on a subject previously pinned down by the force. Get the force out and the words take care of themselves and need no special handling. The meaning of things plays a secondary role in processing to forces. Thetans find counter-forces objectionable. Almost all chronic (continual) somatics have their root in force of one kind or another.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980
——————–
THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
——————–
THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
——————–
“Be the space of your body. The space of this room. The space of your body. The space of this room. Be the space of your body. The space of this room. The space of your body. The space of the building. The space of your body. The space of the building. The space of your body. The space of the building. The space of your body. The space of this building. The space of your body. The space of this building. The space of your body. The space of Camden. The space of your body. The space of Camden. The space of your body. The space of Camden. The space of your body. The space of Philadelphia. The space of your body. The space of Philadelphia. The space of your body. Space of Philadelphia. Space of your body. Space of Philadelphia. Space of New York. Space of your body.” — L. Ron Hubbard, November 28, 1953
——————–
“MISUNDERSTOODS: I wrote a piece in the OOD yesterday about Nixon’s misunderstoods. I hope no one accumulated any misunderstood words reading it. I found ‘hilarity’ in the first sentence wasn’t known. It means ‘high amusement,’ or ‘boisterous merriment’.” — The Commodore, November 28, 1971
——————–
“People need to realize why Scientology isn’t making as many OTs as it should. The purif cannot handle modern problems, Scientology needs to be used in conjunction with expert naturopaths etc to combat modern weapons released on us. I don’t even think we can get OT while we are busy trying to just remain not retarded. Fluoride’s bad effects take awhile to kick in and also I think they combine with vaccines to degrade us, these things take years of accumulation and then it gets passed on to kids.”
1999: Patricia Greenway reported this week on Scientology’s preparations for next week’s protests in Clearwater, on the anniversary of Lisa McPherson’s death. “They have ripped up most of the sidewalks surrounding the Fort Harrison Hotel and the Sandcastle. With the exception of the sidewalk directly in
front of the building, all sidewalks are now dirt, rubble and barricades. This tends to limit the picketing opportunities, which, of course, is their intention. The vans are back in action, shuttling the ‘fearful’ back and forth to all the buildings with windows blacked out by opaque Christmas decorations. The course rooms on Cleveland Street have a festive ‘tarping’ design: all windows are covered in Christmas wrapping paper with bright decorative bows! The Scn. Bank Building looks like Santa’s House with the front steps holding a dozen Christmas trees and fake snow! It’s quite obvious to CW residents that the cult’s plan is to hide behind the ‘valence’ of Christmas in order to portray the message: Look at these scary, degraded people who DARE to picket Christmas itself!'”
——————–
“Every Thanksgiving my Dad would get in a bad mood and start saying stuff like the Native Americans should have slaughtered the pilgrims as soon as they landed.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. DA’s response to appeal brief due August 13.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing December 1.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal. Leah’s appeal brief was filed June 3. Respondent briefs are due September 2.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal. Jane Does’ response to Scientology’s appeal brief submitted July 30. Scientology’s reply due October 20.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
——————–
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Thanksgiving is here and it’s time to pass the Source again!
[TWO years ago] Scientology releases photos of reclusive David Miscavige at IAS gala in England
[THREE years ago] Can the Danny Masterson jury figure things out today?
[FOUR years ago] Scientology returns to ‘Christmas’ implant in earnest: L. Ron is the reason for the season!
[FIVE years ago] Chris Shelton: What it’s like to spy for Scientology’s Office of Special Affairs
[SIX years ago] On this Thanksgiving, we’re thankful again for people we will never forget
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology responds to Leah Remini’s season premiere with smeariest smear video ever
[EIGHT years ago] Ugh. We just found a troubling L. Ron Hubbard Scientology lecture about little boys and sex.
[NINE years ago] How Liz Gale came to disconnect from her own mother, Scientology style
[TEN years ago] Scientology’s apocalyptic ‘expansion’: A hint at the real story in a Brighton shiny moment
[ELEVEN years ago] The richest Scientologists in the world get a new trophy for donating another pile of cash!
[TWELVE years ago] Jefferson Hawkins Explains the Ethics of Scientology’s “Suppressive Person”
[THIRTEEN years ago] More McPherson Cover-Up Corroboration: “I Watched Them Drain $20 Million In Reserves”
——————–
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,461 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,965 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,471 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,021 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,011 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,397 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,892 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,196 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,847 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,065 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,619 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,960 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,531 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,447 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,614 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,196 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,455 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,492 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,207 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,772 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,087 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,262 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,944 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,281 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,134 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,250 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,612 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,023 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,411 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,295 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,860 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,371 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,631 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,735 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on November 28, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2024 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2024), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 20 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
Trump’s heartwarming Thanksgiving message: Walz is retarded
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Sometimes presidents pass out meals in a soup kitchen or visit troops on Thanksgiving. Trump played golf.pic.twitter.com/ZT2Ngu3XnU
— Molly Ploofkins (@Mollyploofkins) November 27, 2025
Release the MRI results. https://t.co/v5iTvLwER9
— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) November 28, 2025
It's truly amazing how no matter how terrible a person is there is an even more terrible person in the replies. pic.twitter.com/w5hjzXgzm3
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) November 28, 2025
The National Guard shooter “received asylum in April under the Trump administration.” https://t.co/w7u2gEk61U
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) November 27, 2025
Mike knows he is lying and he knows Trump's administration approved the amnesty of the shooter but he's got an audience to enrage and Elon Bucks to harvest so he makes up nonsense about how Biden 'made it hard' for Trump to remove this guy. pic.twitter.com/1qapR3NZxa
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) November 28, 2025
8 years into QAnon and we're still prepping the chess board to launch the final attack. America entered World War 2 and crushed Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan 4 years later, yet arresting Hillary Clinton is a tougher task than all that. pic.twitter.com/nw2rV84GSF
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) November 28, 2025
Ron DeSantis at Mar-a-Lago last night pic.twitter.com/pfY5DmGzBe
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) November 27, 2025
The Vance/Thiel/Musk triumvirate are trying to get Trump to 1/20/27 so President Vance will be eligible to run for re-election in 2032. Trump leaving the Presidency for health reasons before that ruins everything for them. They’ll do anything to prop up grandpa till then. https://t.co/nOhLq64uMP
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) November 27, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on November 28, 2025 at 08:00
November 27, 2025
Thanksgiving 2025 is here and it’s time to pass the Source again!
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The Underground Bunker wishes its American readers a very happy Thanksgiving. Once again, we return to our tradition of asking readers to tell us what they’re thankful for as we enjoy one of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s most hilarious tall tales. Pass the Source! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“In DIANETICS: THE MODERN SCIENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH considerable stress is placed on the words and phrases in engrams. This is still functional. However as I did further research I found that (a) many pcs were unable to get the words in the engram and (b) the apparent force of the words was derived wholly from the pain, emotion, effort contained in the engram. In Standard Dianetics the words in an engram play no major role in the auditing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980
——————–
THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
——————–
THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
——————–
“Let’s start back a little further, where you will find quite a few PCs. And that is the Marcab, or the Big Dipper area of this particular galaxy, which received the immigration from another galaxy into this galaxy, and which set up a society which kept going for a very, very long time — a society which is something on the order of about 208,000 years back on the track. Now, that period rather ended and ceased and desisted for that particular society somewhere about 10,000 years ago. So you see, that is a long, rough society. Well now, oddly enough, people went out of that society as thetans and came back into it again. So you get that society, the Marcab society, punctuated with lives spent in completely unidentified, Lord-knows-where planets. And you get such odd things, you know, as fish people. You know? Well, where did they come from? Who are they?” — L. Ron Hubbard, November 27, 1959
——————–
“MISUNDERSTOOD NIXON: Imagine my surprise and hilarity to find that President Nixon is pursuing current economic policies because of a misunderstood word…The word ‘inflation’ is being used in a mis-defined definition by the Administration. All this Wage-Price freeze that Nixon has been putting on is because he thinks the word ‘inflation’ is caused by and means ‘prices increasing.’ He and his beer hall buddies publicly state that ‘the rate of increase in prices is synonymous with the rate of inflation.’ Therefore, all one has to do is freeze wages and one will cure inflation…Looking over this literature I see that when I studied economics at Princeton University I came to some conclusions which were so obvious to me that I thought they were a part of the textbooks…Anyway, the economic trouble we are handling and our hard work to survive and remain viable is being made necessary because of a misunderstood word.” — The Commodore, November 27, 1971
——————–
“I have found that all my primary relationships are relationships of long duration with people I have known from many different times and places in not only this universe but also the universe outside this one… The 2D universe of the Spiritual Family… and the universes and dimensions beyond.”
1998: The St. Petersburg Times published column by Mary Jo Melone on the Lisa McPherson charges against Scientology this week. “The usual rules of the game require that I withhold judgment on the charges of criminal neglect and practicing medicine without a license that were filed against the Church of Scientology on Nov. 13 by Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bernie McCabe in connection with McPherson’s death in 1995. But the good guys finally struck back at that collection in Clearwater of the glassy-eyed, the robotic and the rich. And the just plain sick. The Scientologists didn’t literally use a turkey baster to force
pseudo-medical cocktails into McPherson, but a device that operates under the same principle, called an irrigation syringe. Imagine a needleless syringe bigger than the one used to give you a flu shot. Honest-to-God medical people use it to flush wounds, said Ken Dandar, the attorney for McPherson’s survivors, who are suing the Scientologists. McPherson was pumped with concoctions that would have impressed Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: magnesium, a sedative called chloral hydrate, aspirin, the antihistamine Benadryl, and assorted vitamins and herbs. Scientology mumbo-jumbo swears it was going to save her from her psychosis. A hearing will be held on the criminal charges on Nov. 30, and the Scientologists vow to resolve them quickly. They say nothing like this will ever happen again. If the church pleads no contest to McCabe’s criminal charges, the criminal case can’t even be mentioned in the civil suit. On the other hand, if the church fights the charges and loses, the criminal case can be cited in the civil proceedings. This would almost certainly drive up the cost of a settlement.”
——————–
“In ‘Road To Xenu’ Margery Wakefield recounts sitting around in the Sea Org cafeteria watching Star Trek and they were laughing because the wogs didn’t realize that the stuff on the screen was the writer’s suppressed whole track memories. Hubbard said somewhere that science fiction, if not all fiction, was whole track memories unbeknownst to its authors.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. DA’s response to appeal brief due August 13.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing December 1.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal. Leah’s appeal brief was filed June 3. Respondent briefs are due September 2.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal. Jane Does’ response to Scientology’s appeal brief submitted July 30. Scientology’s reply due October 20.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
——————–
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Lisa Marie Presley’s FBI file shows she was dealing with unhinged stalkers
[TWO years ago] Scientology boasts that it has more big donors than ever in new flier
[THREE years ago] Scientology actually found the one guy who joined because of a Super Bowl ad
[FOUR years ago] In Scientology the ‘executive’ bossing you around is likely to be half your age
[FIVE years ago] Superhuman Scientology OT 8 makes news for being unable to control matter, space, and time
[SIX years ago] The rapey Danny Masterson movie clip someone doesn’t want you to see
[SEVEN years ago] Leah Remini starts third season with bombshell Scientology escape story
[EIGHT years ago] Don’t give short shrift to one of Scientology’s most defining qualities – its arrogance
[NINE years ago] What you’ll find on the menu at the clinic run by a physician who’s also a Scientologist
[TEN years ago] Scientology wants to force a drug rehab center on Maryland: Here’s the local county’s response
[ELEVEN years ago] An iconic Scientology building in Hollywood is in pre-foreclosure, and what that portends
[TWELVE years ago] Vivian Kubrick Surfaces in the Oddest Possible Way: At an Alex Jones Rally
[THIRTEEN years ago] Stephen Kent’s New Article on Scientology’s War With Psychiatry
——————–
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,460 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,964 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,470 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,020 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,010 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,396 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,891 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,195 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,846 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,064 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,618 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,959 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,530 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,446 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,613 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,195 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,454 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,491 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,206 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,771 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,086 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,261 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,943 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,280 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,133 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,249 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,611 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,022 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,410 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,294 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,859 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,370 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,630 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,734 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on November 27, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2024 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2024), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 20 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
A Happy Thanksgiving to Q patriots and libturds alike here at the Bunker
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});BREAKING: New prosecutor dismisses charges against President Donald Trump and others in Georgia election interference case. https://t.co/efnVbsI3oR
— The Associated Press (@AP) November 26, 2025
A few days ago, the wives of some QAnon influencers appeared together on a podcast, where they said that Q strengthened their marriages, said they thought that "Q is God," & claimed that "so many people came to Christ through the Q movement." pic.twitter.com/QPdL4J194M
— Alex Kaplan (@AlKapDC) November 26, 2025
US Ambassador to Canada: But let me tell you, I go around the country and people will say, “Pete, you just don’t understand why we’re so mad about the 51st state.” And it’s kind of like, “Yeah, you’re right. I don’t. pic.twitter.com/twgfpNySef
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 27, 2025
The same people who tell us we need to not give into emotions and to protect the 2nd Amendment at all costs after a school shooting are here to tell us the America Republic must end after the most recent act of gun violence. pic.twitter.com/FPFvzpz2c9
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) November 27, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on November 1, 2025 at 08:00
Tony Ortega's Blog
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